HANCOCK COUNTY — A Cincinnati-based developer is planning its second large logistics building in western Hancock County.
Al. Neyer intends to build a structure of about 267,000 square feet on about 11 acres off the west side of North County Road 700W’s between County Roads 350N and 400N. The development is speculative, meaning no occupants have yet been secured.
It would be the firm’s second large logistics building in the county, after announcing plans earlier this year for one that would be more than 1 million square feet just south of McCordsville. A majority of McCordsville Town Council members voted on first reading last month to approve annexing the site into town, and a final vote is slated for later this month.
The Hancock County Plan Commission voted 6-0 late last month on a favorable recommendation to the county commissioners to rezone the site for Al. Neyer’s latest venture to an industrial designation from a residential one. A house currently stands on the site surrounded by farm ground.
Attendees of the plan commission meeting noted that industrially zoned land surrounds the site.
“What we propose to do tonight is fill the doughnut hole,” said Briane House, a lawyer with the Greenfield law firm Pritzke & Davis, who represents Al. Neyer on the project.
Just to the south of the site, Carmel-based Lauth Group, Inc. has plans for five move-in-ready buildings.
“There is extensive commercial development around this site,” House said. “… The zoning is certainly consistent with what is in the area, and the request is also very consistent with what has occurred with these other projects.”
Plan commission members Bill Bolander, Wendell Hester, Michael Long, Tom Nigh, Renee Oldham and Bill Spalding voted for the favorable recommendation on the rezone. Byron Holden was not present.
“To me, it all appeared that that area was already in a spot that included a lot of the commercial, industrial development already,” Spalding, who’s also a county commissioner, told the Daily Reporter. “It didn’t appear to put any burden on any residential structures in the area.”
House also presented conceptualizations of the proposed building’s architectural features at the meeting.
“These are not just big cubes,” he said. “They have a really good look, and it’s certainly consistent with this area as it’s developing.”
Mike Dale, executive director of the county’s plan commission, said he received no opposition toward the proposal.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Proposed logistics building
- 267,000 square feet
- Off North County Road 700W’s west side between County Roads 350N and 400N
- No occupants yet secured
- Developer: Al. Neyer, Cincinnati
[sc:pullout-text-end]
